The first thing to make me smile is all your great dishcloth feedback, thank you so much it has clarified the dishcloth making process so much for me and made me eager to make more, so much so I have gone and bought these,,,,
They are Aran weight but not quite as thick as the Lily sugar n cream and because of reassurances about the colour's running I'm quite happy to make them bright and cheerful. In fact although the colour did initially run from my green dishcloth it has stopped now and I do love it now that I'm getting used to it so I hope my friends and family will like them too I have one on the hook as we speak a facecloth in fact for a birthday gift, will show you once it's done. :)
Poppies
I love poppies be they real
or handmade...
I have been making these for a sea of poppies project.
Some in crochet and
a knitted one..
I much preferred making the crochet ones they took me no time at all, I found the knitted one a bit fiddly and there was sewing involved that's why there is only one and why there are only four petals when there are five in the pattern.
There are loads of poppy patterns for free if you fancy making some yourself or just click on the pictures to find the patterns I've used although I did play around with them a bit I just can't help myself :)
Doily Progress
This is where I am now, round 19 and there are 34 rounds! I really am a slow coach I think everyone else has finished theirs but I did pause for a while to see if daughter was going to buy a fuchsia rug,well she didn't but all wasn't lost because she did buy some fuschia cushions yay!!
I'm loving making this doily because it's something I don't usually do, some of the rounds are quite challenging and it takes forever to finish a round, the bigger it gets the longer it takes but of course but theres no hurry, it will get done one day.
Visit Pammy Sue to see how beautiful hers has turned out and there are pictures others finished doilies too.
Have a great week!
Thank you for all your lovely comments about part one, I'm hoping you will like what I did with my lovely flowers and scraps of yarn, I think some of you may have guessed already but please indulge me for just a little while longer..
Firstly I gathered my ingredients...
I took them all outside because I rightly thought there could be a bit of a mess in the making of this masterpiece.
I placed all the ingredients on the table then..
I emptied the scraps out of the jar leaving just a few in the bottom...WARNING!!
Do not do this on a windy day! I nearly lost all my vital scraps of yarn that I had been gathering for months, however order restored...
I began to place flowers into the jar using the scraps to keep them in place
I added more scraps and slowly built up the flowers around the jar bit by bit,
you have to have a bit of patience, but it's fun filling in all the gaps to hide the scraps, not that it would matter if you could see a few here and there. See how it's taking shape, I kept adding more scraps and the placing flowers all around and right to the top until.....
Tadaaaaa!!! Introducing....Flowers in a jar
What do you think? did you guess right?
Here it is placed in a natural setting
looking down onto the top
And sitting on the dining table, I think it looks lovely everywhere.
Think of the possibilities, you could use just one type of flower or maybe just one colour to suit your decor, you could use hearts or butterflies or a mix of all.. small jars or large jars my head is spinning.
How about Halloween in a jar filled with ghosts and bats with a big spider on the top!
One thing is for sure I will never throw away any scraps again, be they yarn, thread or fabric they can all be put to good use.
I have another jar just like this one which is nearly full of scraps so I'm on the look out for more pretty flowers, why don't you join me and make one too, I would love to see your scrap jar idea's. :)
Those of you who have been following me in the crafty corner for a while may remember last year I went through a crocheting of flowers craze, I really couldn't stop for a long time, firstly I was making them because I enjoyed the process and I loved how you could make up a little pile of flowers in no time....
It was also a great way to use up all those little scraps of yarn. There is so much flower inspiration out there you really are spoilt for choice, you can click on the captions to see the post about the flowers and find the patterns too.
As well as the flowers above I did make these whilst I was just playing around with my hook.
I have used my flowers for all sorts of projects but I have had a special project in mind for such a long time, it involved the flowers and.....
my scrap jar of little bits....
now to avoid confusion for those of you who are new to my blog you may want to read this TUSAL post which explains how it all started and then if you are intrigued and would perhaps like to join in just follow the link below.
I am going to leave it there for now but I will reveal what I did with my flowers and my lovely brimming to the top with scraps scrap jar very soon, maybe tomorrow or maybe the day after or mayb......
Hope you're having a happy Monday if not then......
perhaps this will make you smile :)
I'm so glad that I am not alone in the business of saving shoe boxes and other equally important things, I loved reading your comments they put a huge smile on my face. :)
Remember my challenge at the beginning of the month? It involved using up at least 100 grams of your least favourite yarn.
This was the yarn that I pulled out from under the bed and I have turned it......
Into this scarf
It's an easy project to do when you want a bit of mindless crochet... when watching TV or even when you have company, do you crochet when you have company?
(some people think it's rude)
I used two strands of yarn together and a 6 mm hook, made a chain to the width I wanted and then I worked one row in trebles (dc,US) and one row in dc (sc,US) and I just kept going until the yarn was used up, it measures just over 5 foot and it took 165 grams of yarn.
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I worked with this yarn because it was bumpy and bobbly I thought that it would be difficult to crochet with but it wasn't too bad at all and the completed scarf is nice and soft and has a lovely texture.
Then just to cheer it up a bit, after all Spring is nearly here and flowers are starting to bloom, the scarf in bloom was born.
Just by adding those three little flowers at each end, it makes all the difference.
Magic ring, (chain 2, 1tr into ring, ch2, ss into ring,) (ch2, 1tr into ring, ch2, ss into ring) until you have 5 petals or 6 if you like.
I always make these because they are easy and I never forget how to make them. They are also great for beginner crocheters. I usually add a little French knot in the middle after I have sewn them on.
So I'm feeling quite happy because I have met my challenge already in the first half of the month, I may do it again next month because I do have a lot of stash yarn that I don't really love.
Have you risen to the challenge yet?
A Walk On The Beach
I have been so lazy during the winter just sitting around playing on my laptop, crocheting and getting fatter and very unfit, because the weather has been so beautiful this week and because I had a day off from work, I had no excuse not to get out and walk and so I jumped into the car and went to the beach.
I live on the North East coast of England and have my choice of beaches just a ten minute drive away. The beach I chose to visit was Seaham Beach
I just love to walk by the sea, it's possible to walk 11 miles along the Durham coast Path but that's for another day.
It's a long walk down but it seems even longer on the way back up.
Although it is a sandy beach there is a great deal of shingle too I love these pebbles, I like to sit amongst them and play with them and let the smaller ones run through my fingers, they feel lovely, heated with the warm sunshine.
Still too cold for a paddle.
I know it looks pretty deserted but there were quite a few people enjoying the sunshine and lots of dog owners having fun with their pets but you know what I saw the most?... grandparents with their grand children, obviously mum and dad are at work so the grandparents are looking after the little ones and having a lot of fun into the bargain.
I walked for just over an hour and when I climbed up those steps to get back to the top I was puffing and panting and my heart was pounding I am definitely out of condition and I suppose I am still recovering from the flu.
I really enjoyed my walk it blew the cobwebs away and everyone I encountered was smiling and friendly so happy to see the sunshine, it quite lifted my spirits, so I think more of the same is in order and when I can run up those steps and not collapse in a heap then I know I'm on the right track.
Enjoy the rest of your week and make the most of the sunshine.
I really can't be bothered with big projects right now, don't you find it hard to knit or crochet when it's so warm? I'm not complaining about the lovely weather long may it last! it's just that I need to crochet or I will get withdrawal symptoms and so, small is the way to go.
I have been making lots of cute little projects with 4 ply cotton, they turn out so sweet but I have found the smaller the project the more wear and tear on my thumbs so I'm having to be careful because they are aching quite a bit just now. While I am on the subject I found this blog post today which I found really interesting, it's a pity it wasn't available last year when my problems first started. There is lots of good advice on there for any of you who have problems with your hands.
This is what I have been up to today.
I made these with Patons DK cotton and a 3.5mm hook
These are made with Patons 4ply and a 2.5mm hook
I thought they would be good for bag charms or hanging on a key ring. I always think it's nice to have a few little things like this just to give away as gifts.
Then I had to put the cotton away but my crochet cravings weren't satisfied so I made these with DK wool.
You can find the free pattern for these cute flowers here
I have a plan for these they are going to sit with the granny roses and puff flowers that I made before, I need just a few more flowers before I put this plan into action, all will be revealed once it's done, I only hope that this idea of mine works or I'm gonna look a bit silly....haha but then I'm used to that. :)
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!
A Collection Of Flowers 2
The Granny Rose
When I'm sitting with nothing to do I find myself just picking up a hook and making a few of these. it doesn't matter where you are people always comment on how lovely they are.
Thank you Astri for introducing me to these beautiful roses.
I have a couple of projects in mind for these, now take a look at this.
Does that not want to make you weep? my poor shrub was killed by the frosts!
but all is not lost....tadaaaa
It's amazing how more and more roses seem to blossom but they never die off! I started off with 24 and at the last count there were 36, they just seem to fly off my hook and land right here.
I think that looks so much better don't you?
Why do some people namely one certain brother not understand that it's ok to be a bit silly now and then, he thought I should chop it down!!!......or do you think I've lost the plot too? I don't mind it's staying haha
It seems that red roses are in just now have you seen what Astri has been doing with her's take a peep.
I will show you what I did with the others in a later post
Stats
Each rose takes just 5 grams of yarn
find the pattern here
